Cleaning Marble Memorials

Marble tombstones aren t as popular today as granite or bronze gravestones because marble is highly vulnerable to stains and damage.

Cleaning marble memorials.

In knowing how to clean a marble headstone properly you adopt the gentlest least invasive practices to preserve the longevity of the stone. Different types will require different cleaning methods. Cleaning weak marble can result in further irreparable damage. His article begins with an overview of the material s origins and historic uses before going on to focus on its durability and defects cleaning assessments the cleaning process and the application of protective surface coatings such as microcrystalline wax or limewash.

If these are present it may be best to leave it as is. The steps below will help you in cleaning gravestones as safely as possible to prevent further damage to the gravestone. Headstones can be very porous and can soak up the cleaning solution before it has a chance to work. How to clean marble headstones.

Cleaning gravestones with bleach is never a good idea church said but it s especially bad when you re working on porous stone. Most headstones are made up of natural stones which are comprised of salts and minerals. Sandstone gently clean using water with a neutral detergent use a biocide solution to help remove any organic growth. Simply wet a soft brush in a bucket of water and gently scrub away the debris from the stone.

Clean a marble gravestone. Only marble that is in good condition should be cleaned. Soak the stone with water to saturate any growth that may be present. How to clean marble headstones.

Cleaning granite memorial stones depending upon the amount of debris that has accumulated on the gravestone gently wash with water and a soft cloth the worst of the dirt. Bleach is alkaline so it doesn t pose the big risk of acidic. Steps to clean a marble headstone. The most common types of headstones existing today are made of sandstone granite marble and limestone.

Marble needs to be treated even more gently than granite. How to clean a marble headstone. Soak the stone by spraying it down with a hose or dumping a bucket of clean water over the entire surface. Inspect the entire headstone for cracks wear and signs of damage.

Spraying down the headstone first will help maximize the effectiveness of the cleaning solution. It is important that you know what type of stone you are dealing with. Pre wet the stone with clean water. Nevertheless for some families marble is still the stone of choice because of its natural beauty.

Conservator angus lawrence supplies a brief expert introduction to the cleaning of historic marble monuments. This is the opposite of an all to common assumption that extreme measures given the contaminants should be used on exterior marble cleaning.